Ski boot and ski binding therefor

ABSTRACT

A ski boot in which one or more tubular elements are firmly embedded in the sole into which the skier himself may install at least partly spherical locking elements of a ski binding which are adapted to engage resiliently into spherical apertures or recesses in bracketlike fittings which are adjustably secured to the ski. The ends of the tubular element or elements are flush with the peripheral edge of the sole and may be closed by plugs if the skier wishes to employ a different ski binding.

United States Patent Paul Lollmann;

Justus Rieker, both 01 Tuttllngen, Germany 795,550

Jan. 31, 1969 Sept. 28, 197 11 Rieker & Co.

Tuttlingen am Wurtt, Germany Feb. 27, 1968 Germany inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority SKI BOOT AND SKI BINDING THEREFOR 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 280/1135]! Int. Cl A63c 9/08 Field 01' Search 280/1 1.35; 36/ 1 12 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1944 Jansen 280/11.3SH

3,061,325 10/1962 Glass ...280/l 1.35 (AA) 3,095,210 6/1963 Hallam ....280/l 1.35 (CB) 3,244,431 4/1966 Hatlapa ....280/l1.35 (CA) 3,271,040 9/1966 Spademan ...280/l 1.35 (HA) FOREIGN PATENTS 134,284 10/1929 Switzerland ...280/l1.35 (AA) 417,267 1/1947 ltaly ..280/1 1.35 (LB) Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith AltorneySpencer & Kaye ABSTRACT: A ski boot in which one or more tubular elements are firmly embedded in the sole into which the skier himself may install at least partly spherical locking elements of a ski binding which are adapted to engage resiliently intu spherical apertures or recesses in bracketlike fittings which are adjustably secured to the ski. The ends of the tubular element or elements are flush with the peripheral edge of the sole and may be closed by plugs if the skier wishes to employ a different ski binding.

SKI BOOT AND SKI BINDING THEREFOR The present invention relates to a ski boot which is especially designed so as to be provided with a safety ski binding, and it further relates to the structure of this binding which essentially consists of at least partly spherical locking elements which are mounted in the sole of the boot in at least two opposite positions near the peripheral edge of the sole and project spherically from the surface thereof, of spring means acting upon at least one of these locking elements so as to permit this element to be resiliently depressed in the direction toward the center of the sole, and of fittings which are secured to the ski and are provided with recesses or apertures which are adapted to receive the projecting spherical parts of the locking elements and to hold the boot sole on the ski.

The two main parts of the new ski binding, that is, the locking elements on the boot sole and the fittings on the ski, will be released from each other when in skiing a torque of such a force is produced between the boot and the ski that the locking element which is acted upon by a spring will be depressed against the action of this spring so far toward the inside of the sole by the wall of the aperture or recess in one of the fittings into which it engages that at least this locking element will disengage from the fitting and the boot sole will thus be released from the ski.

If the locking elements are disposed within a line which intersects the axis of the lower leg of the skier at a right angle thereto and also extends at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the ski binding according to the invention will not require any additional means for holding the toe and heel on the ski. The ski binding will then be a so-called step-in binding which does not require the skier to bend down for connecting the binding to the ski.

It is an object of the present invention to design the means for holding or mounting the locking elements of the ski binding as described above on the sole of a ski boot so that a skier may purchase such boots independently of this particular ski binding and without being required to employ this binding. In other words, the binding according to the invention should not only comply with the requirements as previously stated, but it should also be designed so as to permit the purchaser of the boots to employ any other binding in place of the new binding and to mount the locking elements of this new binding without any difficulty on the ski boots if subsequent to the purchase of these boots he might decide to employ the new binding.

For attaining this object, the present invention provides that for removably connecting the locking elements of the ski binding to the sole, at least one of these elements is located within a bearing element which may be secured to the sole adjacent to its outer edge. This bearing element may also be provided for mounting the other locking element on the sole if a tubular element which extends from one locking element to the other is embedded in the sole and the locking elements are prevented by suitable means from falling out of this tubular element. Generally, however, it is more advisable to provide a separate bearing element in the form of a bushing for each locking element, and these bearing elements are preferably screwed into the opposite ends of the tubular element. In order to prevent the tubular element from interfering with the use of a ski binding of another type, the ends of this element are preferably flush with the peripheral edge of the sole. When the ski binding according to the invention is not to be employed on the boot, the open ends of the tubular element may be closed by suitable means, for example, by plugs of rubber or plastic, which project very little if any from the peripheral edge of the sole.

Although the boot according to the invention is provided at all times with parts of the ski binding which are important for carrying out the functions of the binding, these parts are of such a type that their production and embedding in the sole of a boot will not materially affect the cost of the boot nor render its production more difficult since this production is entirely independent of the provision of the locking elements and these locking elements may or may not be subsequently installed. The invention therefore requires only the tubular element to be embedded in the sole by molding or vulcanizing it into the same.

It is within the concept of the present invention to provide a ski boot with several pairs of the mentioned locking elements behind each other transverse to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the boot or to embed several tubular elements in different positions behind each other in this transverse direction so as to permit one pair of locking elements to be inserted into one or another of these tubular elements in accordance with the most suitable distance of this pair from the axis of the lower leg of the skier. By varying this distance, it is possible to adjust the degree and also the force which is required for turning the boot relative to the ski in order to release them from each other. Since the locking elements may be easily installed in or removed from the boot, it is also very easy to vary this distance and thus the releasing effect of the binding.

The tubular element or elements which are embedded in the sole may be made of any suitable material, for example, of metal or plastic. The invention is also not limited to any particular shape of these tubular elements, although their ends should be of a circular cross section to permit the bushings in which the locking elements are mounted to be screwed into these ends. The longer central part of each tube may, however, have a cross-sectional shape other than circular which may be of particular advantage for different purposes.

These as well as additional features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, partly in cross section, a perspective side view of a ski boot according to the invention, the outer sole of which is provided with means for mounting the locking elements of the ski binding according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section which is taken through the lower part of the ski boot according to FIG. I in a direction vertical to the longitudinal axis of the boot, but also illustrates the locking elements according to the invention within their mounting means;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the part of a ski on which the other elements of the ski binding are mounted which are associated with the locking elements according to F IG. 2; while FIG. 4 shows a cross section which is taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the ski boot according to the invention generally comprises an upper l and an outer sole 2 which is preferably integral with the upper by being molded together with or vulcanized upon the upper. During the operation of molding the outer sole 2, two tubular elements 3 and 4 are embedded therein which are provided with webs 5, 6, and 7 projecting from their outer peripheral surfaces to prevent the tubes 3 and 4 from turning about their axis within the sole 2. The two tubes 3 and 4 are preferably integrally connected by the central web 6 so that only a single element has to be inserted as a unit into the mold. As may be seen particularly in FIG. 2, the outer ends of the two tubes 3 and 4 are flush with the surface of the peripheral edge of the sole 2. When the tubes 3 and 4 are not employed for holding the locking elements as subsequently described, their open ends may be closed by suitable plugs, not shown, which project only a very small distance if any from these ends and thus from the outer surfaces of the sole.

While the outer end portions 8 of tubes 3 and 4 have a circular cross section and are provided with internal screw threads, the upper and lower wall portions 9' and 9" of the longer central part 9 of each tube are flat and parallel to each other, as shown particularly in FIG. 4.

Into each end portion 8 of tubes 3 and 4 a threaded bushing 10 or 11 may be screwed which serves as a bearing element for a locking element 12 or 13, respectively. These locking elements form parts of a ski binding which are associated with other binding parts as shown in FIG. 3 which are secured to the ski. The locking element 13 consists of a ball which slidably and rotatably engages with the inner side of the bushing 11 and is prevented from falling out of the open outer end of the bushing by engaging with the partly spherical inner surface of the front end of this bushing within the flange 11 which extends outwardly to a plane beyond the equator of ball 13.

The other bushing serves as a bearing for the locking element 12 which has likewise a substantially spherical shape and forms the head of a screw 14 which is prevented from shifting in its axial direction by the bushing 10 and a spring ring 15 on the shank of the screw. The threaded part 16 of screw 14 is screwed into a nut 17 which, when screw 14 is turned about its axis, slides along the screw within the central part 9 of tube 3 or 4, as shown in FIG. 4. Nut 17 acts upon one end of a coil spring 18 in tube 3 or 4, the other end of which presses against the locking ball 13. In order to permit a suitable tool to be ap' plied upon the spherical head 12 of screw 14 for turning the latter, this head which also serves as a locking element is provided with a pair of opposite slots 19 and 20 which extend transverse to the axis of the screw. When turning the screw 14 in one direction or the other, the tension of spring 18 will be increased or reduced and thereby the force may be varied which is necessary for pressing the ball 13 so far into the tube 3 or 4 that the two locking elements forming one part of the ski binding, that is, the spherical screwhead l2 and the ball 13, may be disengaged from the spherical apertures 21 and 22 which are provided in the short upright arms of a pair of angular brackets 24 and which are secured to the ski 23 and form the other part of the ski binding, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The longer arms of these brackets 24 and 25 are slidably adjustable in a groove 26 in the upper side of the ski which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski. For this purpose, elongated recesses 27 are milled out of the upper side of these longer bracket arms for receiving the heads of a pair of screws 28 the shanks of which extend through narrower slots in the bottom of these recesses into the ski. By means of these screws 28, brackets 24 and 25 may be adjusted relative to each other to a certain position in accordance with the width of the soleof the boot which is to be secured to the ski.

While the short arm of bracket 24 containing the spherical aperture 21 may be integral with its longer arms which is secured to the ski, the two arms of bracket 25 are divided and its short arm 29 containing the spherical aperture 22 is connected to its longer arm so as to be pivotable outwardly from its normal vertical position, that is, away from the edge of the sole, about a hinge pin 30 which extends through a bifurcated hinge part 32 on the outer end of the longer bracket arm and the associated hinge part on the short arm 29. This short arm is normally locked in a vertical position to the longer arm of bracket 25 by a locking pin 31 which extends through a bore in the short arm 29 into a coaxial bore in the hinge part 32 and may be held in its locking position by any suitable means, for example, by a bayonet look, not shown. When the locking pin 31 is unlocked, it may be pulled upwardly until it is withdrawn from the hinge part 32. The short bracket arm 29 may then be pivoted outwardly and will thereby release the boot.

From the simple construction of the part of the ski binding as shown in FIG. 2 which is mounted on the boot and includes the locking elements 12 and 13 it is evident that these elements may be very easily installed in a boot. This is accomplished by first screwing a bushing 11 into one end of the respective tube 3 or 4 which is to be used, by then inserting the ball 13, the spring 18, and finally the screw 14 with the nut 17 thereon into the other end of the same tube, and by then screwing the other bushing 10 into the tube 3 or 4. In order to permit the bushings 10 and 11 to be locked tightly to the respective tube 3 or 4, it is advisable to make the flanges l0 and 11' of these bushings which are applied against the outer endsof the tube of an angular, for example, hexagonal, shape.

The locking elements of the ski binding according to the invention do not need to be mounted on the ski boot in the particular position as illustrated in FIG. 1. Either in place of or in addition to the locking elements which are provided on the opposite sides of the sole, it is also possible to provide similar locking elements on the toe and heel parts of the sole.

Although our invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, we wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim is:

1. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded within the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably mounted in said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking element having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element being removably connected to said tubular element at said edge of said sole, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said tubular element, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking element for connecting said boot to said ski.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which the outer ends of said tubular element are substantially flush with the peripheral edge of said sole.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said bearing element consists of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element, and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said tubular element is embedded in and locked to said sole when said sole is being molded.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said locking elements are disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and intersecting substantially at a right angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot.

6. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded in the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably connected to said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element consisting of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements, and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end of said tubular element, one of said locking elements consisting of a screw having an at least partly spherical head rotatable but nonslidable in its axial direction in one of said bushings, a nut screwed upon said screw and nonrotatably guided within said tubular elements so as to be slidable along said screw when said screwhead is turned, a compression spring mounted within said tubular element and having one end acting upon the other locking element and another end acting upon said nut so as to permit said other locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said other locking element consists of a ball rotatably and slidabiy mounted within one of said bushings.

8. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which the outer end portions of said tubular element have a circular cross section, one of said bushings being screwed into each of said end portions, the longer central part of said tubular element in which said nut is slidable having a noncircular cross section for guiding said nut and preventing it from turning relative to said tubular element.

9. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said partly spherical screwhead has at least one recess at the outside of its bushing and extending transverse to the axis of said screw, said recess being adapted to permit a tool to be connected to said head for turning said screw.

10. in combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, said locking elements being disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and inter secting substantially at a right angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to saidski and having recess therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.

11. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for con necting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski for connecting said boot to said ski, said fittings including a pair of arms normally projecting upwardly from the opposite lateral sides of said ski and each having a recess for receiving the spherically projecting part of one of said locking elements, and adjustable means for varying the distance between said arms and for securing said fittings to said ski.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11, in which said arm of at least one of said fittings is pivotably connected to said ski so as to be pivotable from a substantially vertical position laterally outside of said ski so as to permit said sole to be easily inserted between and removed from said arms, and locking means for normally securing said pivotable arm in said vertical position. 

1. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded within the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably mounted in said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking element having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element being removably connected to said tubular element at said edge of said sole, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said tubular element, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking element for connecting said boot to said ski.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which the outer ends of said Tubular element are substantially flush with the peripheral edge of said sole.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said bearing element consists of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element, and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said tubular element is embedded in and locked to said sole when said sole is being molded.
 5. The combination as defined in claim 1, in which said locking elements are disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and intersecting substantially at a right angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot.
 6. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: a tubular element firmly embedded in the sole of said boot and extending between two opposite points on the peripheral edge of said sole, at least two locking elements removably connected to said tubular element at said two opposite points thereof and having parts adapted to project outwardly from said edge of said sole, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having the shape of a part of a sphere, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements, said bearing element consisting of a tubular bushing for guiding one of said locking elements, and having threads for screwing the same into one end of said tubular element and means for preventing said locking element from projecting beyond a certain distance from, and falling out of said end of said tubular element, one of said locking elements consisting of a screw having an at least partly spherical head rotatable but nonslidable in its axial direction in one of said bushings, a nut screwed upon said screw and nonrotatably guided within said tubular elements so as to be slidable along said screw when said screwhead is turned, a compression spring mounted within said tubular element and having one end acting upon the other locking element and another end acting upon said nut so as to permit said other locking element to be depressed against the action of said spring in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.
 7. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said other locking element consists of a ball rotatably and slidably mounted within one of said bushings.
 8. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which the outer end portions of said tubular element have a circular cross section, one of said bushings being screwed into each of said end portions, the longer central part of said tubular element in which said nut is slidable having a noncircular cross section for guiding said nut and preventing it from turning relative to said tubular element.
 9. The combination as defined in claim 6, in which said partly spherical screwhead has at least one recess at the outside of its bushing and extending transverse to the axis of said screw, said recess being adapted to permit a tool to be connected to said head for turning said screw.
 10. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, said locking elements being disposed within a straight line extending substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said ski boot and intersecting substantially at a righT angle the axis of the lower leg of a skier wearing said boot, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski and having recesses therein adapted to receive said projecting parts of said locking elements for connecting said boot to said ski.
 11. In combination, a ski, a ski boot, and a binding for connecting said boot to said ski, said binding comprising: at least two locking elements removably mounted within the sole of said boot and having parts adapted to project outwardly from the peripheral edge of said sole at two opposite points thereof, at least each of said projecting parts of said locking elements having a shape of a part of a sphere, adjustably precompressionable spring means mounted within said sole, said spring means acting upon at least one of said locking elements so as to permit said element to be depressed against the action of said spring means in the direction toward the central axial plane of said sole, at least one bearing element for holding at least one of said locking elements removably secured to said edge of said sole, said sole enclosing the portions of said binding mounted thereon other than the projecting parts of said locking elements and the outer surfaces of said bearing element, and fittings secured to said ski for connecting said boot to said ski, said fittings including a pair of arms normally projecting upwardly from the opposite lateral sides of said ski and each having a recess for receiving the spherically projecting part of one of said locking elements, and adjustable means for varying the distance between said arms and for securing said fittings to said ski.
 12. The combination as defined in claim 11, in which said arm of at least one of said fittings is pivotably connected to said ski so as to be pivotable from a substantially vertical position to a position laterally outside of said ski so as to permit said sole to be easily inserted between and removed from said arms, and locking means for normally securing said pivotable arm in said vertical position. 